The trains we see today have a long history behind their back. History of the advanced trains traverses the scope of last two hundred years of present day human development, who in that time utilized this mind-boggling revelation to definitely change industry, human extension, and the way we go on consistent basis. The use of trains as a transport first began in 6th century in ancient Greece where the Diolkos was in use for over 650 years.

The pre-steam systems

In the pre-steam period, wooden and metal rails were introduced. In 1515, a railway line at the Hohensalzburg Castle used wooden rails which was operated by animal or human power through a treadwheel. An updated form of this line this exists. In 1550s appeared the tramways using wooden rails, hauled by horses. Introduced for facilitating transport, they soon became very famous in Europe. In the late 1760’s, iron was first used in wooden rails. Later a system was introduced which came to be known as plateways in which wheels ran on L-shaped metal plates. This system continued to exist till the early 19th century. In 1820, cast iron was replaced by wrought iron, which was more suitable for iron rails. The significant developments in iron production eventually led to the replacement of wood/iron rails.

Steam power introduced

The first full-scale working railway steam train was worked in the United Kingdom in 1804 by Richard Trevithick, a British designer. During the years there were several inventions in steam power. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway were the first public railway using only steam locomotives. Steam power kept on being the overwhelming force system in railroads far and wide for over a century.

Electric power

The first built electronic locomotive was powered by galvanic cells. The world’s first electric tam line (Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway) built by Siemens was opened in Lichterfelde near Berlin, Germany. In 1895, electrification of main line was first used. By early 1900s most street railways were zapped. Italian railways were the first on the planet to present electric traction for the whole length of a fundamental line instead of only a short extend.

Diesel Power

The world’s first diesel-powered train was operated in the late spring of 1912 on the Winterthur–Romanshorn railway in Switzerland, yet was not a commercial achievement. In 1914, direct current electric control system was developed which led to a significant breakthrough. The first regular use of diesel-electric trains was in shunter applications. The Canadian National Railways were the first to use diesels in mainline service.

High-speed rail

The primary electrified rapid rail Tōkaidō Shinkansen was introduced in 1964 between Tokyo and Osaka in Japan. From that point forward rapid rail transport, working at speeds up or more 300 km/h, has been worked in Japan, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan (Republic of China), the United Kingdom, South Korea, Scandinavia, Belgium and the Netherlands. The history of train is unique, the more you delve, the more fascinating it becomes.